Sunshine Coast, Noosa braces for more flooding as heavy rainfall continues
Sunshine Coast and Noosa residents face further flooding as more than 266 roads are hit with closures and accidents from Noosa to Caloundra. At Glasshouse Mountains, a dramatic rescue has unfolded. SEE THE VIDEO
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Sunshine Coast and Noosa residents face further flooding as more than 266 roads are hit with closures and accidents from Boreen Point north of Noosa to Burpengary south of Caloundra.
There were also widespread power outages on Sunday morning including at Beerwah, Glasshouse Mountains, Carters Ridge, Tuchekoi, Hunchy, Palmwoods, Noosaville, Imbil, Kandanga, Peacher, Woodford, Stony Creek, Chevallum, Eudlo and Maroochydore.
In the Glasshouse Mountains, dramatic video of the rescue of a family of three from floodwaters has emerged (See above).
It was a lucky escape for Nicolette Stewart, Rachel Thompson and their son Noah, who climbed into a QFES rescue boat and said goodbye to their underwater home.
Ms Stewart said she was shocked by how rapidly the water rose, covering “every inch” of the house.
“It was over a metre high around the property and that’s why we needed the boat to get out,” Ms Stewart said.
Water gushed into the Glasshouse Mountains home, uprooting the furniture.
In Brisbane, a man has died after a car was found in floodwaters in Indooroopilly about 2.45am on Sunday.
He is the sixth to die while a man who was found dead near Gympie has been identified as a well, loved father of three.
While the system causing the havoc is moving south, the bureau said at 5am more rain was likely.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60mm and 120mm are likely to continue, reaching up to 150mm over areas southeast of Caloundra to Warwick and contracting south to the NSW border today.
“Locally intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible with thunderstorms during this period, particularly over coastal areas south of Caloundra and the Gold Coast hinterland. Six-hourly rainfall totals in excess of 200mm are possible.”
Overnight, an emergency alert was issued for the Noosa area, with residents told normal access routes may be cut.
Residents were told more areas may become isolated for some time.
While the rain has eased on Sunday morning, overnight locals reported another torrential downpour, as well as thunderstorms.
Police, SES and Queensland Fire and Rescue authorities are urging locals to stay home and off roads, with another 200-300mm possible.
With flooding in many residential streets, motorists have been urged not to drive in the areas as the backwash can cause significant problems for those homeowners.
NOOSAVILLE, TEWANTIN FLOOD THREAT
Noosa’s Disaster Management Group is warning residents in parts of Noosaville and Tewantin to prepare for inundation, with Noosa River set to peak at 1.7 metres at high tide, which was 5.40am Sunday.
Memorial Ave, Hilton Esplanade, Hilton Terrace, Gympie Terrace, Cloudsley Street, parts of Eumundi Noosa Road, Hygieta Street, Janet Street, Robert Street and Lake Weyba Drive are all in the firing line.
Flooding is also expected to impact the lower ends of Moorindil Street, Carramar Street as well as Burgess Drive near Beckmans Road. Noosa North Shore is also set to be heavily impacted.
Residents of these areas are urged to check the major flood level modelling maps at disaster.noosa.qld.gov.au
Residents who plan to stay should move vehicles to higher ground and gather food and vital medication supplies to cover them for the next 24 to 48 hours, and be prepared for power outages.
Noosa Leisure Centre at Wallace Drive, Noosaville, is open as an Evacuation Centre, while Pomona’s Community House is a Place of Refuge.
If needing assistance, please call 0411 114 077.
Police Senior Sergeant Ben Carroll is asking motorists to stay away from the low lying areas. “It is a no go zone unless you live in the area,” he said.
Rapid river and creek level rises have been observed along the Maroochy, Noosa and Coochin Creek catchments and their tributaries.
Vast parts of the region were under water on Saturday as the weather bureau warned major flood levels for the Maroochy and Noosa Rivers could soon exceed those experienced in 1992.
The weather bureau said Tewantin may exceed 1.81m, Dunethin Rock the 1992 major flood level of 4.40m and Picnic Point at Maroochydore 1.91m.
Lake Macdonald Dam in the Noosa hinterland is spilling at more than 156 per cent capacity, Baroon Pocket Dam is at 115 per cent capacity, Borumba at 142 per cent, Ewen Maddock at almost 140 per cent and Wappa at 120 per cent.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads closed the Bruce Highway in both directions from Caboolture to Caloundra with water covering several sections of the main artery.
Queensland Police said the closures would be in place for a “lengthy period”.
The Bruce Highway has also been closed north of the Sunshine Coast near Gympie.
More than 1m of rain was dumped on the Sunshine Coast this week causing widespread flooding.
The heavy rainfall has left Kenilworth without access to freshwater and residents in the Parrearra region reported sewerage systems overflowing.
FLOODING EXPECTED TO BEAT 1992 RECORDS
Weather bureau senior meteorologist Jackson Browne said Saturday’s rainfall centred around Pine Rivers and parts of Maroochy catchment area, with 122mm recorded at Maleny since 9am.
“With that really intense rainfall prior to 9am, there’s been lots of rainfall between 300-400mm getting up to 444mm at Tin Can Bay, and that’s resulted in flooding around the place,” Mr Browne said.
Major flooding is expected on Saturday night, with the predictive levels expected to exceed the 1992 record.
Mr Browne said residents can expect rainfall to continue for the next few days before it eases off around Tuesday but he warned people to not become “fixated” on the forecast.
“It’ll be pretty historic rainfall there, and it’s forecast to continue into Sunday as we have a convergent band of rainfall intermittently coming into the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“With the convergence band turning into a low, we’re expecting one to form in the northern parts of southeast Queensland and this low will start to move away from (the area).
“It won’t be completely dry with a possible shower around but conditions really drop off around Tuesday.
“It’s a dynamic situation … all it takes is a convergent band to blow out rainfall and the river changes.”
Mr Browne said people needed to pay attention to any emergency service warnings, as flood warnings remain in place for the Mooloolah River, Maroochy River, Noosa River and Coochin Creek areas.
PEOPLE TRAPPED ON ROOF
It comes as emergency crews responded to several rescues including two people stuck on a roof at Yandina and a motorist trapped by floodwater near Nambour on Saturday morning.
Queensland Fire and Rescue said crews were continuing to receive calls for help across Saturday morning.
One crew were called at 6am on Saturday to Bli Bli Rd, Nambour after reports a car was stuck in rising floodwater near Tuckers Creek Bridge.
A spokesman said the crew had to travel around the Bruce Highway to access the eastern side of the creek where the car was stuck.
“A person was trapped inside but they were not at risk,” the spokesman said.
“The crew walked into person and walked the person out.”
Clayton’s Towing were also on scene to help removing the car from the floodwater.
Meanwhile, five crews on a boat were trying to reach two people stuck on a roof on Yandina Bli Bli Rd at Maroochy River.
The alarm was raised at 7.10am on Saturday.
Reports said the pair were stuck on the roof in a paddock.
Crews were also called to Dalton Dr near Newspaper Place in Maroochydore at 7.15am on Saturday after reports a car was stuck in floodwaters.
Emergency services were also trying to reach a group of people trapped between two flooded creeks on Old Gympie Rd, Beerwah, about 7.35am.
The people had sought shelter in a house between the two swollen creeks.
A spokesman said a person and a car were safely removed from the floodwater but firefighters remained on scene blocking the road to other motorists.
The rescues come after an emergency alert was issued on Friday night.
Residents at Godfrey Ave, Bli Bli, have been cut off from David Low Way, forcing people to stay put until water recedes.
The banks of the Maroochy River have broken with parts of Bradman Ave flooded.
A severe weather warning was issued for parts of the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay on Saturday morning.
Torrential rain has continued throughout Friday night and into Saturday.
Large downpours are again forecast for the weekend.
Flood warnings remain in place.
WATER SUPPLY CUT AT KENILWORTH
Kenilworth residents and businesses are being asked to use water wisely after the town was cut off to its main water supply.
The hinterland town is not connected to the SEQ Water Grid and relies on its own water supply from a wet well buried in the sand on the bank of the Mary River.
The water treatment plant is offline due to the extreme wet weather and heavy rain inundation.
When the plant is offline, water is carted to the reservoir, however trucks are currently unable to access the reservoir due to local road closures.
Unitywater Acting chief executive Pauline Thomson said using water wisely would help preserve the water supply until water carting to the reservoirs could recommence.
“We have a dedicated team monitoring this situation closely and are working with Seqwater to resolve it as soon as possible,” Ms Thomson said.
“This extraordinary weather has been challenging for our crews across the region and we are working around-the-clock to respond to many wet weather-related jobs.
“We thank our communities for their understanding and patience as we work to ensure our services keep flowing for everyone.”
‘IT’S GOING TO GET HIGHER’
Residents on the banks of the Maroochy River were scrambling to save their homes from rising floodwater.
Alan Johnson who has lived at his Bradman Ave property for 27 years compared the rainfall with the floods in 1999.
He said he had been preparing for a few days for the onslaught of water coming his way, placing sandbags at his garage to stop the water coming in as cars rushed past.
“In 1999 it took about four or five days before it went down, so this might take four or five days too plus you’ve got all the water upstream that’s got to come down too,” Mr Johnson said.
“I just went down the backyard and I sank in the mud.
“I’ve got cracks in the concrete, and the water is coming up through them.”
Mr Johnson said the biggest concern now for his house was people driving along having a look at the rising tide unnecessarily.
“Neighbours have been chasing people away, you can’t just go screaming in your four-wheel drive just because your four-wheel drive is safe,” he said.
“It’s flooding people’s houses and causing torrents to come in.”
Backpackers Steffen d‘Atolonia from Germany and Lauren Gomes from Canada were paddling in their kayak despite the prospect their house might flood.
“Our house is going to be flooded anyway so we may as well have fun,” Ms Gomes said.
Mr d‘Atolonia said he was handling the potential flooding issue “like a break-up”.
“You go through stages, at some stage you start crying and then you start believing,” he said.
“It’s like a break-up in a relationship, first there’s the denial then there’s the fun and then denial and anger but we’re in the fun stage.”
The Sunshine Coast recorded its wettest days in history on February 21-22; and the resulting floods left a devastating legacy of multimillion-dollar damage & heartbreak for homeowners.
Sunshine Coast resident Rob Wehmeyer said he had no choice but to drive through the rising water at Bradman Ave after he was worried about his mum’s safety.
“The only reason I came through was to get my mum out of the (Big4 Maroochy River) caravan park because that’s going under,” Mr Wehmeyer said.
“Back in 1992, we had crazy water highs where all of this went under and now (the park is) starting to go under.
“I was a little worried for my mum and I wanted to get her out.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson said he was prepared for the worst, despite selling his tinnie a few weeks ago.
“My sandbags are here every year and it’s going to get bigger,” he said.
“It’s definitely going to come higher.”
SWIMMING POOL FILLED BY FLOODWATER
On social media, Sunshine Coast residents were wondering when it would all end.
“We’ve recorded 1077mm from Tuesday evening until 6am this morning here in Carters Ridge,’’ Wade Preston reported.
“Never in our lifetime would we have thought we would experience that amount of rain in such a short period of time.”
One Maroochydore local took advantage of the rain and decided to do some laps of the football field at Fishermans Road.
Scholard Financial Solutions posted the video on social media questioning whether they were “sponsoring Maroochydore Roos AFL or a swimming club”.
Coast resident Mellissa Stannard said the rain was relentless.
“It’s just so heavy, so loud and so bloody continuous, it’s hard to think let alone sleep.
“Changing buckets and buckets of water from leaks … “I’ve never experienced anything like it and I actually love storms and have been though plenty of big ones, back living in Bri City for the 2010/2011 floods, a destructive microburst and a cyclone but this is just (ugh I'm starting to hate this word but..) unprecedented!”
Glen Wilson said he thought Wednesday and Thursday were insane rain events.
“Since 2.30am this morning, it has beaten them both. The water level is lapping the back door. It has to ease soon, or we are in big trouble.”
Ashleigh Kahler described the deluge as devastating. “We are praying so hard that this just moves off the coast. Sitting in darkness and wondering what‘s happening to the animals and farm outside is cruel.”
Selena Pryde, of Pomona, where there has been 538mm of rain in less than 24 hours and more than 1178mm this week, said she had an empty pool which holds 48,000 litres.
“We are lapping the top step in the pool.’’
Cooran has also recorded more than 1000mm this week, while Mt Glorious has had over 700mm in the past 24hrs from 3am to 3am.
RAINFALL FIGURES
The weather bureau‘s automatic station recorded more than 920mm at Pomona between Tuesday morning and Friday.
About 880mm fell during the same period at Cooran, 620mm at Moy Pocket, and 720mm at Kin Kin.
An emergency alert has also been issued to residents in Gympie.
The Mary River is 21.36m and still rising rapidly in Gympie as the bureau confirms it is likely to “eclipse” the 1999 flood levels.
Rescue authorities have pleaded with others to stay off the roads to avoid “life and death” rescue situations in their cars.
Further heavy to intense rainfall is forecast to continue during Saturday.
MAJOR EVENTS CANCELLED
The 2022 Youth State Championships at Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba Beach have been cancelled.
The decision was made earlier this morning due to current Queensland Fire and Emergency Service warnings to stay off the roads, flooding of Mooloolaba River and all Sunshine Coast beaches being closed.
The event will not be rescheduled.
The Oztag Junior State Cup has also been cancelled.
Organisers took to social media to announce the cancellation of the popular event, which was meant to be held at the Sunshine Coast Stadium from February 25 to 27.
“Queensland Oztag would like to assure all players and spectators that every effort was being made to hold this event, including draw restructures which would have allowed our event to have taken place,” they said on Facebook.
“It is not the result we wanted and we are gutted for all the kids who were looking forward to taking the field.”
Registration refunds will be provided, Queensland Oztag said.
‘THE SMELL WAS HORRENDOUS’
Residents in the Parrearra area reported toilets in their houses were backed up, leaving unbearable stenches throughout their homes.
Holly reported she woke to loud gurgling and banging to find her sewerage system failed to cope with the onslaught of water.
“The smell was horrendous and was giving me a headache as methane seeped through the house,” she said.
“We quickly opened all of the windows and covered drains to help alleviate the stench.
“The toilets are full and unusable, we‘re considering trips to the local shops for toilet stops.
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